Yard/garage sales can help you purge your home and make some money at the same time. They can be work too. But if you spend some time thinking about the timing, pricing and display of your sale, it can go more smoothly, which can increase traffic and sales…and maybe even make it fun for you.

1. PLAN AHEAD –

Select a non-holiday weekend that’s near the first or fifteenth of the month, which is when many people get paid. Hardcore bargain shoppers like to start early so plan on opening between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

*Many cities now require that you have a permit to run a garage sale. Check with a clerk at your city or town hall to find out if you need one. Some cities allow you to apply for permits online. Here’s info for Colorado Springs residents…

https://www.springsgov.com/units/salestax/Tax%20Guides/Ag-garage%20sales.pdf

2. DECIDE WHAT TO SELL –

If priced right, almost anything will sell at a yard sale. If you’re looking to get rid of items you no longer use and make some fast cash, put any and all items in the yard sale and then donate or recycle what doesn’t sell. Pricy items in good condition such as electronics, designer clothes or shoes, or antiques might not bring in as much money at a yard sale as they would on sites like Craigslist or at consignment stores so you might consider that.

You’ll have more people stop to shop if you have lots of variety and items to offer. If you don’t think you have enough stuff, consider teaming up with friends or neighbors. The more you have to choose from, the more likely someone will stop in the first place. Plus, people will shop longer if they think there are lots of good deals in one place.

3. ADVERTISE –

It’s easy to spread the word for free…About a week before the sale, use Craigslist, Twitter, Facebook, and nextdoor.com to advertise, along with photos and descriptions of some of those nicer items you have to offer. There are also lots of sites such as garagesalestracker.com and yardsalesearch.com that can help you get the word out and offers more yard sale tips.

Flyers and signs still work great too…make sure they are easy to read and include the street address, date, and times. Use bold colors that are easy to see and add arrows pointing in the right direction. Adding balloons the day of the sale will grab even more attention.

4. PRICE IT RIGHT –

What’s the point of having a yard sale if your items are priced too high and nothing sells? On the other hand, if you price it too cheap, you don’t have much room to negotiate, which a lot of bargain shoppers like to do. If you personally shop at garage sales or even thrift stores, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to price your items at.

As you price items, consider the condition it is in. If it’s broken, stained, torn, or missing pieces, you’re not going to get a lot, no matter how much it originally cost. For items in good condition that you’re asking a bit more for, you can post a printout showing the current price of the item next to your price tag…which shows the value of the item and the deal you’re offering.

If you have a definite price you want for a certain something, price it slightly higher so you have room to negotiate and allow you to get the price you want and the buyer feels like she got a good deal.

Shoppers like getting more for their buck so offer combo deals which allows you to sell items of lesser value that might not have sold otherwise. If you’re selling books for a dollar each, offer to sell them 5 for $4. In garage sales past, I’ve done this with vases or votive holders that I had tons of…the buyer felt like she was getting a deal and I got rid of more items.

And do take the time to price everything. Shoppers do not want to have to track you down or wait while you’re dealing with someone else just to find out how much something is. If you are offering all shirts for a dollar each, you can make a sign that says that instead of individually pricing each and every one. You can find pricing stickers at most dollar stores or simply use masking or blue painter tape.

For larger items like furniture or shelves, make a larger price sign so it can be seen easily.

Start slashing prices an hour or two before you close. You can have a sign already made that says “50% off all items” (or whatever you want) for when you’re ready to go lower on prices.

*If you have multiple people participating, have everyone use a different colored price tag or tape so it’s easy to keep track of who sold what.

If you have questions, garagesaletracker.com has this neat little chart to give you some ideas on pricing…

http://www.garagesalestracker.com/garage-sales-guide-pricing.asp

5. MAKE IT EASY TO SHOP –

Arrange your sale so people actually want to pull over and shop. Place some of your bigger or nicer items closer to the curb to grab attention. Put men’s items like sports equipment or tools close to the curb too…which will offer more appeal to couples driving by. (He might not mind stopping for you to browse if he has something to look at too.)

Clean or wipe down items so they look their best. Make sure you check pockets and drawers for items you may have forgotten about. If you still have the box or manual, include it.

Arrange items by category to create “departments” which will make shopping easier. (Clothes, kid’s gear, kitchenware, books, crafts, etc.)  Leave enough room so it’s easy to navigate around items and others. Hang clothes on a portable clothes rack, rope hung between two trees, or even old shower rod so clothes are easy to see and people don’t have to bend over or dig through boxes. Sizing them makes it even more helpful.

If you don’t have enough tables, use boxes to display items on. Toss an old sheet, tablecloth or piece of material over them and arrange items so they can be seen easily…cute arrangements might make people buy more too. A dress paired with a cute handbag, dishes matched up with linens, or perhaps a few pieces that would work well together on a shelf. If they see something that works well together, chances are they’ll buy both.

If you have items that are slightly broken or cracked like a flowerpot, which someone could use in a DIY project, price it low. You could even make a sign that says “Great for DIY Projects.” You can also make a “Freebie” box with items and place it next to the curb to draw attention. If they stop to look at the free items, chances are they’ll do a bit of shopping.

A FEW MORE IDEAS –

Selling lemonade, water, or treats can add to the till and keep shoppers shopping longer. If you have children, they can man the stand and earn some money. Playing upbeat music at a low level can add to the overall experience.

Have batteries and an electric outlet available so customers can try out items to make sure they work.

Wearing an apron with pockets is a great way to carry money around. If you have multiple sellers, keep a tally sheet of who sells what so it’s easy to divvy up the money at the end.

Have plenty of change and small bills on hand. Bags, boxes and newspaper are helpful to have on hand too.

An extra pair of hands not only makes it more fun, but allows you to take bathroom breaks, run and get change if needed, or keep an eye on things.

Making little notes about items can get someone’s creative juices flowing…

At the end of the sale, place everything that didn’t sell in boxes or bags for a donation drop.

By  making shopping easier, you increase the odds of selling and making more.